Margaret Grimes, Landscape Painter of Untamed Places, Dies at 77
On October 9, 2020, Margaret Grimes, a renowned painter celebrated for her vibrant landscapes, passed away in the Bronx. Born on June 5, 1943, in New Bern, North Carolina, she was raised in Michigan. Grimes obtained her BA and MA from Governors State University in 1975, followed by an MFA from the University of Pennsylvania in 1980. In 1976, she drew inspiration from Alice Neel. Known for her detailed briary thickets, Grimes believed that landscape painting necessitated viewing nature as if it were the last opportunity. She showcased her work at Blue Mountain Gallery and John Davis Gallery, receiving the Hassam, Speicher, Betts, and Symons Purchase Award in 2019. Grimes co-founded WestConn’s MFA program and retired in 2013, leaving behind her daughter Carolyn Wallace and son Bernard Hulce.
Key facts
- Margaret Grimes died October 9, 2020 in the Bronx
- Born June 5, 1943 in New Bern, North Carolina
- Earned MFA from University of Pennsylvania in 1980, studying with Neil Welliver
- Met Alice Neel in 1976 at Notre Dame’s Women Artists-in-Residence Program
- Long association with Blue Mountain Gallery in New York City
- 2019 Hassam, Speicher, Betts, and Symons Purchase Award from American Academy of Arts and Letters
- 2013 retrospective at Gallery of Western Connecticut State University
- Co-founded WestConn’s MFA program and retired as Distinguished Professor Emerita in 2013
Entities
Artists
- Margaret Grimes
- Alice Neel
- Neil Welliver
- Rudy Burkhardt
- Paul Georges
- John Wallace
- Jennifer Samet
Institutions
- Michigan State University
- Governors State University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Notre Dame’s Women Artists-in-Residence Program
- Blue Mountain Gallery
- John Davis Gallery
- American Academy of Arts and Letters
- Lyman Allen Museum
- Western Connecticut State University
- Gallery of Western Connecticut State University
- artcritical
- Henry Barnard Foundation
- Connecticut State University
Locations
- New Bern
- North Carolina
- Bronx
- Michigan
- Illinois
- New York City
- Hudson
- New York
- New London
- Connecticut